The Silph Company (Japanese: シルフカンパニー Silph Company), or simply Silph Co. is a company headquartered in Saffron City that is featured in many versions of the Pokémon franchise. They are the manufacturers of many tools, including the Silph Scope—a device that allows the user to view spectral entities—as well as home appliances. They are also speculated to run the Poké Marts in Kanto as well as in Johto and the Sevii Islands.
According to a Team Rocket scientist in the core series games, Silph Co. has a Russian branch in Tiksi. In the original Japanese versions, the branch is in Ponaya Tunguska (Japanese: ポナヤツングスカ) instead. This is another reference to the real world in the Pokémon games and proves that Silph Co. has international branches in addition to the ones in locations other than Saffron City.
In the core series games
Overview
Silph Co. is the leading manufacturer of Pokémon technology. This company develops the most commercially used Poké Balls and several other Pokémon-related items, including medicine and Technical Machines, looking for ways to improve them. It supplies the Poké Marts of its territory. Its president is a kind, old man.
History
Silph's status had made it a target of Team Rocket, which in Generation I and III, orchestrated the takeover of their headquarters in Saffron City. The situation will be resolved by the player, who will take on the mission of driving them out of the city. Team Rocket had also gained the Silph Co.-made Silph Scope to combat ghosts. It is revealed by the company's president that the top-secret development project Team Rocket was after is the Master Ball, which can catch any Pokémon without fail.
Headquarters
The Silph Co. Office Building, based in Saffron City, is an eleven-floor skyscraper that is effectively a giant maze.
Generations I and III
In Generations I and III, the player can navigate on the inside of the building by using warp tiles in order to reach the board room on the top floor. The player must find the Card Key, which unlocks Silph's doors like a hotel key, on the fifth floor of the building in order to do this. All the while, the player must battle through numerous Team Rocket Grunts, including the Rocket Brothers, and one Juggler, who is curiously also part of Team Rocket. Several Scientists have also defected to Team Rocket, sometimes pretending to be hostages, and will battle the player on sight. The bed at the bottom-left corner of the ninth floor can be used to heal the Trainer's Pokémon without having to leave the building.
Then the player must return to the third floor, open the doors in the center-left of the floor, and use the warp tile to the far left to be taken to the room with a further warp tile that leads to board room. The player's rival waits in that room and must be defeated before continuing on. After he has been beaten, the other person in the room will give the player a Lapras, an extremely rare Pokémon that cannot be obtained any other way in Generation I.
After this, the player may continue on to the board room to face Giovanni and ensure that the plans for the Master Ball are not stolen. After rescuing Silph, the player is free to explore the building and talk to the employees.
In FireRed and LeafGreen, there is a Move Tutor who will teach the move Thunder Wave to a Pokémon.
Generations II and IV
A Silph Co. Pokégear, bearing the company's logo
In Generations II and IV, Silph Co. has increased security, and the player is not allowed to enter the upper floors. One of the guards will kindly give the player an Up-Grade for talking to him.
In HeartGold and SoulSilver, the elevator has broken and is unsafe, denying the player access to the upper floors. However, upon defeating Red, the player may obtain one of the Hoenn region's starter Pokémon from Hoenn Champion, Steven Stone. He will also trade his Beldum for a Forretress.
Generation IV introduced a logo for the company that appears on the Pokégear and has a statue based on it in the company's building.
Rotom's Room
- Main article: Rotom's Room
The alternate forms of Rotom may also be accessed here in Generation IV via the broken elevator. When Rotom is in the party, the Silph Co. building will be deserted of all people, including Steven. The notebook present in the room indicates that Charon may have had a past connection to the company.
Discoveries and inventions
Within the company, there are reports of discoveries that serve as in-game trivia for the player.
In the Generation I games, one report says that only four Pokémon evolve when traded, referring to Kadabra, Graveler, Machoke, and Haunter. In Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, it instead says that some Pokémon evolve when traded.
Another report confirms that Pokémon can learn over 160 techniques in the Generation I games, while in FireRed and LeafGreen it's over 350 techniques.
A third report informs the player that Porygon, the first virtual-reality Pokémon, was created by the Pokémon Lab in Cinnabar Island.
Manufactured items
Below is a list of all the known items that are manufactured by Silph Co.:
Items
Pokémon
Generation I
| Pokémon
|
Games
|
Location
|
Levels
|
Rate
|
| Gift Pokémon
|
|
|
R
|
B
|
Y
|
|
Gift
|
|
15
|
One
|
| A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.
|
Generation III
| Pokémon
|
Games
|
Location
|
Levels
|
Rate
|
| Gift Pokémon
|
|
|
FR
|
LG
|
|
Gift
|
|
25
|
One
|
| A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.
|
Generation IV
| Pokémon
|
Games
|
Location
|
Levels
|
Rate
|
| Gift Pokémon
|
|
|
HG
|
SS
|
|
Gift
|
|
5
|
One
|
|
|
HG
|
SS
|
|
|
Gift
|
|
5
|
One
|
|
|
HG
|
SS
|
|
|
Gift
|
|
5
|
One
|
| Special Pokémon
|
|
|
HG
|
SS
|
|
The same as the Traded Pokémon
|
One
|
| A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.
|
Trainers
Generation I
2F
3F
4F
5F
6F
7F
| Trainer
|
Pokémon
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Muk
|
Lv.29
|
| No item
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
If the player chose Bulbasaur:
|
|
Reward: $2600
|
|
|
|
|
|
If the player chose Charmander:
|
|
|
Reward: $2600
|
|
|
|
|
|
If the player chose Squirtle:
|
|
|
Reward: $2600
|
|
|
|
|
|
If Eevee evolved into Vaporeon:
|
|
Reward: $2600
|
|
|
|
|
|
If Eevee evolved into Jolteon:
|
|
|
Reward: $2600
|
|
|
|
|
|
If Eevee evolved into Flareon:
|
|
|
Reward: $2600
|
|
|
|
|
|
8F
9F
10F
11F
|
|
Reward: $4059
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reward: $930
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reward: $4059
|
|
|
|
|
|
2F
| Trainer
|
Pokémon
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Trainers with a Vs. Seeker by their names, when alerted for a rematch using the item, may use higher-level Pokémon.
|
3F
| Trainer
|
Pokémon
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Trainers with a Vs. Seeker by their names, when alerted for a rematch using the item, may use higher-level Pokémon.
|
4F
| Trainer
|
Pokémon
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Trainers with a Vs. Seeker by their names, when alerted for a rematch using the item, may use higher-level Pokémon.
|
5F
| Trainer
|
Pokémon
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Trainers with a Vs. Seeker by their names, when alerted for a rematch using the item, may use higher-level Pokémon.
|
6F
| Trainer
|
Pokémon
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Trainers with a Vs. Seeker by their names, when alerted for a rematch using the item, may use higher-level Pokémon.
|
7F
| Trainer
|
Pokémon
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Muk♂
|
Lv.29
|
| No item
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Trainers with a Vs. Seeker by their names, when alerted for a rematch using the item, may use higher-level Pokémon.
|
If the player chose Bulbasaur:
|
|
Reward: $1440
|
|
|
|
|
|
If the player chose Charmander:
|
|
|
Reward: $1440
|
|
|
|
|
|
If the player chose Squirtle:
|
|
|
Reward: $1440
|
|
|
|
|
|
8F
| Trainer
|
Pokémon
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Trainers with a Vs. Seeker by their names, when alerted for a rematch using the item, may use higher-level Pokémon.
|
9F
| Trainer
|
Pokémon
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Trainers with a Vs. Seeker by their names, when alerted for a rematch using the item, may use higher-level Pokémon.
|
10F
| Trainer
|
Pokémon
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Trainers with a Vs. Seeker by their names, when alerted for a rematch using the item, may use higher-level Pokémon.
|
11F
| Trainer
|
Pokémon
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Trainers with a Vs. Seeker by their names, when alerted for a rematch using the item, may use higher-level Pokémon.
|
|
|
Reward: $4100
|
|
|
|
|
|
Layout
Inside design
1F-6F
7F-11F
Generations II and IV
Outside design
In Super Smash Bros.
- Main article: Saffron City (stage)
Silph Co. appears in Saffron City as a playable stage in Super Smash Bros. (called Silf in the Japanese version). The battle takes place on the roof of Silph Co. and a few smaller surrounding buildings, along with two small moving platforms. This is the home stage of Pikachu and Jigglypuff in the game.
Certain Pokémon will emerge from the elevator on the Silph Co. building and attack briefly, similar to Pokémon summoned from Poké Balls. Occasionally, Pidgey, Fearow, Butterfree, and other Flying-type Pokémon will appear in the background.
In the anime
In the main series
According to artwork from the Game Freak website, the P1 Grand Prix is sponsored by Silph Co. and held in the Celadon City Hall.
In Pokémon Origins
Silph Co. in Pokémon Origins
Silph Co. appeared in the Pokémon Origins episode File 3 - Giovanni. Like in the games, it was taken over by Team Rocket. Hearing from Silph Co.'s vice-president of how Team Rocket was experimenting on Pokémon in order to accelarate the completion of Master Ball, Red decided to storm the building. Doing so, he freed all the Pokémon and Scientists that were trapped inside, even obtaining a Lapras from one of the Scientists as a thank-you gift. Finally he arrived at the president's office, where he encountered Giovanni. Before Giovanni could escape, Red proclaimed that he would always be out there to stop their plans, irritating the Team Rocket Boss. Wanting to teach Red a lesson, Giovanni challenged Red to a Pokémon battle, which ended with Giovanni's Nidoqueen defeating Red's Charizard and wrecking a big portion of the building in the process. Afterwards, Giovanni escaped with a helicopter, leaving before the police could arrive. It was also mentioned that the development of Master Ball was put on hold for a while due to this incident.
In the manga
In the Pokémon Adventures manga
Silph Co. in Pokémon Adventures
Silph Co. made a brief appearance at the end of Holy Moltres in the Red, Green & Blue arc, where Sabrina was in the office with Giovanni saying that they have captured all the legendary birds. Later, the Pokédex holders battled against the evil Gym Leaders and Thu-Fi-Zer in there, and defeated them, causing the building to collapse and freeing the legendary birds in the process. Two years later in Ponyta Tale, Agatha picked up the Badge Amplifier that was buried in the rubble for usage at Cerise Island.
In the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga
Silph Co. in Pokémon Pocket Monsters
Silph Co. appeared in Finish Off Team Rocket!!. Erika's father is the president of Silph Co.
In the Pokémon Zensho manga
Silph Co. in Pokémon Zensho
Silph Co. was seen in Saffron City. After hearing from the Dojo Master that the Gym Leader Sabrina's talking Psychic Lapras had been stolen by Team Rocket and taken to the Silph Co., Satoshi infiltrated the building, where he soon found Sabrina, who had just found her Lapras. Satoshi and Sabrina decided to team up against Team Rocket, and used Sabrina's teleporting powers to reach the top floor, where Giovanni was keeping the Silp Co.'s president as hostage. After defeating Giovanni's Nidoqueen with Lapras, Satoshi obtained the Master Ball from Silph Co.'s president and the Marsh Badge from Sabrina as a thanks for his help.
Trivia
- Scientist Taylor in the Generation I games and Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen claims that the Tiksi branch of the company is "in Russian no-man's-land". In the Japanese versions, where the branch is in Ponaya Tunguska (ポナヤツングスカ) instead, he claims that it is located "deep in Russia". Ponaya Tunguska appears to be a shortened form of the transliterated name of Podkamennaya Tunguska in Japanese (ポドカメンナヤツングースカ).
- Though a logo for the company was not introduced in-game until Generation IV, several possible logos have been seen in previous games. One appeared on the side of the Silph Co. building in Super Smash Bros. (see above), another appeared on the original Pokégear artwork as a stylized 'S' and a third one can be seen on the Time Capsule; however, none of them is truly confirmed to be the company's logo.
- According to Maisy, her father works for Silph.
- Scientist Ross, who can be battled in the Team Rocket HQ in the Generation II games and Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, mentions that he used to work for Silph.
Name origin
Silph Co.'s name is a corruption of Sylph, a mythological creature.
In other languages
